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Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State look strong as road favorite

Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) throws during an NCAA college football game between Tulsa and Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is pictured during an NCAA college football game between Tulsa and Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) throws during an NCAA college football game between Tulsa and Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph, top, is tackled by South Alabama defensive end Jimmie Gipson during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in Mobile, Ala. Oklahoma State won 44-7. (AP Photo/Dan Anderson)
Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph looks to throw against South Alabama during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Dan Anderson)
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By Brian Edwards Special to the Review-Journal
September 15, 2017 - 6:29 pm
 

Oklahoma State has won 10 of its past 11 entering Saturday’s game at Pittsburgh, with seven of those victories by at least 17 points.

That’s what happens with a great quarterback. After throwing 28 touchdown passes to four interceptions last season, senior Mason Rudolph is off to a great start again, completing 72.6 percent of his passes for 638 yards and six TDs with no interceptions in blowouts of Tulsa and South Alabama.

Rudolph has outstanding weapons in running back Justice Hill and wide receivers James Washington and Jalen McCleskey. Washington had 71 receptions for 1,380 yards and 10 TDs last season, and he’s caught eight passes for 243 yards and three TDs this season. One year after rushing for 1,142 yards, Hill is averaging 6.1 yards per carry on 26 attempts.

I normally avoid laying double digits on the road — the Cowboys are 11½-point favorites — especially when a team is playing away from home for a second straight week. But Oklahoma State had an extra day of rest after playing South Alabama on Sept. 8.

The Cowboys are 19-12-2 ATS as road favorites during coach Mike Gundy’s 13-year tenure at his alma mater. I made them 17-point favorites.

Four more plays (home team in CAPS):

Tennessee-FLORIDA (Under 49½): I made this number 46. Florida failed to produce 200 yards of total offense in its opener against Michigan, and the Gators again will be without suspended playmakers Antonio Callaway and Jordan Scarlett. Six of Florida’s past eight games have had combined scores of 44 points or fewer. Michigan’s 33-17 win over Florida needed three defensive TDs to get to 50.

SOUTH CAROLINA (-5½) over Kentucky: I made the Gamecocks 11-point favorites. They are getting All-American-like production out of wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who has scored five TDs three different ways, and quarterback Jake Bentley has looked outstanding with a 4-1 TD-interception ratio. Kentucky will be without its best defensive player in linebacker Jordan Jones (shoulder).

VANDERBILT (+4) over Kansas State: I made Vandy a three-point favorite. QB Kyle Shurmur has thrown for 498 yards and seven TDs without an interception. The Commodores have outscored Middle Tennessee and Alabama A&M by a combined score of 70-6. They have won their past four home games by 11 points or more. Vandy has been a home underdog 11 times under coach Derek Mason and gone 8-3 ATS.

Tulsa-TOLEDO (Over 67½): I made this number 78. Tulsa defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 66-42 and lost to Oklahoma State 59-24. Toledo scored 40 points in the first three quarters of a 47-13 win over Elon, and led 34-24 after three quarters of a 37-24 victory over UNR. Toledo has one of the nation’s most underrated QBs in Logan Woodside, who threw for 4,129 yards last season. He has a 47-9 TD-INT ratio since the start of the 2016 season.

Last week: 4-2 against the spread

Season: 7-3-1

Brian Edwards of VegasInsider.com and BrianEdwardsSports.com is providing college football analysis for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Follow @vegasbedwards on Twitter.

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